Iconic Liverpool building is to get new lease of life as film studios
One of Liverpool’s best loved buildings is to get a new lease of life as a film studios.
Plans have been unveiled for a Hollywood standard filming complex at the former Littlewoods pools building in the city.
The owner of the building – Capital & Centric – has signed a deal with the UK’s oldest film studios Twickenham Studios.
The world-renowned Twickenham Studios is famous for its work on movies such as Blade Runner, The Italian Job, Gandhi and more recently The Martian and Baby Driver.
Images of how the £50m Littlewoods Studios will look alongside the restored 1930s art deco style building have been released.
The project will feature two new 20,000 sq ft sound stages along with supporting workshops; wardrobe and prop storage and offices.
Littlewoods building
Liverpool regeneration specialists Capital & Centric will restore the Edge Lane building, once home to the Littlewoods Football Pools.
Twickenham Studios have signed an agreement for lease on 85,000sq ft and will become the hub’s first anchor tenant. The deal is subject to planning permission.
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital & Centric said: “Littlewoods is one of Liverpool’s most loved buildings – it’s only fitting that we give the city something they’ll be proud of.
“Twickenham Studios couldn’t be a better fit. They’ll bring a century’s worth of film-making heritage and help to write a new chapter for the creative industries in and around Liverpool.
“Relighting the excitement and buzz around Littlewoods for a new generation of creative people will be incredible.
Workers at Littlewoods
“Our legacy will be Liverpool becoming a proper powerhouse for the film industry, one that will inspire the city’s young people to take up a career in production.
“We’re taking what is an important part of Liverpool’s social fabric and creating something that has been on the city’s wish list for a long time. We couldn’t be prouder.”
Twickenham’s London studio was the UK’s largest when it was set up in 1913, and went on to produce a series of screen classics including the Beatles’ Help and A Hard Day’s Night.
Maria Walker, Chief Operating Officer of Twickenham Studios, said: “This is a major milestone in our history. When we saw the vision for Littlewoods we knew we had to be a part of what will be an incredibly special place.
“Liverpool’s architecture, accessibility and can do attitude sees film-makers return to the city time and time again. With the added benefit of our studios, they’ll have access to gold-standard interior facilities right on the doorstep of unique exterior locations.
“It will be great to see Liverpool become an international focal point for TV and film.”
Directors and producers are no strangers to Liverpool, with productions including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Peaky Blinders filmed in the city.
Last year alone, the city clocked up 1,359 days of filming across 289 projects.
The announcement comes just a week after Liverpool made the shortlist of cities hoping to become the new home to Channel 4’s regional base – with the Littlewoods building a core part of the city’s bid.
Recent statistics, from economic experts Ekosgen, showed that Littlewoods Studios will not only create over 570 direct jobs, but could support over 2,000 additional roles thanks to the halo effect on the Liverpool city region and result in an annual boost of £124m to the local economy.
If all goes to plan the studios will be up and running in 2020.
